Display device



,April 28, 1925. I 1,535,408

" C. F. FRlCKE vDISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 31, 1923 7728 f 4 7Mv/ 4 M L25 y" Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHAR-LES F. FRICKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

f v Application filed March 31, 1923. Serial No. 629,178.

, ful Improvements in Display Devices, of

which the following is a specification.

More particularly my invention relates to a display device in which aplurality of display sheets may be detachably secured in a rotation.

The main object of my invention is to provide a display device adaptedto receive a loose display sheet and to draw and hold the display sheettaut in an operative position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a display device having twomembers, one of which is adapted to be brouglit to a position adjacentthe other, to detachably secure a display sheet betweenthem and to drawthe sheet taut across the men'ib-ers as the one member is being broughtinto the position adjacent the other.

Other objects of my invention will become 1 apparent as the detaildescription progresse reference being had to the accompanying drawing,wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a display device embodying thenovel features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on li1' e,22 of Fig. 1. I

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections taken on lines 3-3 and &-l respectively ofFig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the figurebeing drawn to an enlarged scale to better illustrate the novel featuresof my invention.

In the drawing, the reference character 10 designates in its entirety myimproved display device, which comprises a housing 11 having an innerreflecting surface 12. The reflecting surface 12 aids a lamp 13 disposedwithin the housing 11 to illuminate a display sheet 14:, which is heldby suitable means in an operative position at the forward open end ofthe housing 11.

The means for holding the display sheet 141 in an operative position inthe display device 10 is the subject matter of this invention andcomprises a frame having two members, one of which, designated by thereferen e character 15', is rigidly secured to the housing 11 by screws16. The. other frame member, designated by the reference character 17,is secured to the frame member 15 by means of hinges 18, which alsoserve as rests for the display device 10, together with a leg 19,rigidly secured to the rear wall 20 of the display device. The two framemembers 15 and 17 are adapted to receive, and hold between the-1n thedisplay sheet 14. For this purpose a latch 21 is pivotally secured tothe frame member 15 and adapted to engage a screw 22 on the frame member17 to secure the frame mem ber.17 in the position relative to the framemember 15 shown in Fig. 2.

My invention contemplates the use of loose display sheets so that aseries of display sheets may be shown in rotation. Each display sheetmay be a sheet of pap-er or the like having a display printed or paintedthereon. To facilitate the use of loose display sheets of thischaracter, which are not provided with individual frames for holdingthem taut when in operative positions in a display device, I haveprovided means associated with the frame members 15 and 17 which areadapted to draw the display sheets taut across the frame members. Themeans comprise a plurality of tongues 25, one of which is formed uponeach of the side members 26 and upon each of the end members 27 of theframe member 17., The tongues '25 are. adapted to lit somewhat snuglywithin a groove 28, cut into the front face of the frame member 15 whenthe frame member 17 is positioned with respect to the frame member 15 asshown in Fig. 2. It is apparent that the display sheet 14, which issufficiently long and wide to be engaged by each of the tongues 25, willbe securely held between the frame members so that the lamp 13 mayilluminate it. It is also apparent that when a display sheet 14 is to beinserted between the frame members 15 and 17, the frame member 17 mustbe swung away from the frame member 15 to permit insertion of the sheetbetween the frame. members. Then as the frame member 17 is moved intoposition against the frame member 15, the several tongues 25 will tendto draw the respective marginal portions of the display sheet away fromthe center thereof down into the groove 28 in the frame member 15, andtherefore it will be readily understood that each pair of oppositelydisposed tongues 25 will draw that portion of the display sheet whichlies between them taut across the frame. I prefer to provide a recess 30in that face of the frame member 17 upon which the tongues are formed.This is to reduce the tension upon the edges of the display sheet 1 1 sothat its marginal portions may adjust themselves in the groove 28, forafter the display sheet has been drawn taut across the frame members,the edges of the display sheet must be drawn toward the tongues 25 orthe display sheet will be destroyed.

as shown in Fig. 4, each end of each of the tongues is cut away as at32, for otherwise the tongues 25 would have a tendency to tear theseveral corners of the display sheet.

In the operation of the device a display sheet 14: may be removed byunlatching the frame member 17 from the frame meml'ier 15 and swingingit downwardly until the tongues have left the groove 28 in the framemember 15. The display sheet 1% may then be removed, and the new displaysheet let substituted therefor. The operator need only align the newdisplay sheet 1% with the frame members 15 and 17, and then move theframe member 17 into the position shown in Fig. 2. The frame member 17may again be latched to the frame member 15 and the display device isready for use.

My invention is not concerned with the particular type of display deviceemployed. nor is it necessary that means be provided for illuminatingthe display sheet, as my invention may be embodied in any display devicewhich is adapted to be used in connection with a loose display sheet.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement: ofparts may be made without departing from the spirit and withoutsacrificing the advantages of the invention and I reserve the right tomalte all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the followingclaims:

I claim:

1. In a display device, a display sheet. :1

frame comprising a plurality of members, one of which is adapted to bebrought into position adjacent the other to detachably secure thedisplay sheet in the frame. the members having co-acting surfaces fordrawing the sheet taut across the frame as the one member is broughtinto position adjacent the other, and one of the members being recessedto receive the edges of the display sheet.

9. In a display device, a display sheet. a frame con'iprisiug a pair ofpolygonal members adapted to secure the display sheet in the frame. aplurality of tongues on one member having their ends spaced from thecorners of the member. and grooves in the other member adapted toreceive the tongues to draw the display sheet taut across the frame.

In a display device, two frame members. each having a plurality of sidesand hinged together at one side and having contacting surfaces. one ofsaid surfaces being provided with a tongue on each side and the otherwith a groove on each side to receive said tongue. whereby a displaysheet placed between said frames will be drawn taut by the bringingtogether of said frames. said tongues and grooi es tending to draw themarginal portions of said sheet away from the center thereof.

4. In a display device. two frame members, each having a plurality ofsides and hinged together at one side and having contacting surfaces.one of said surfaces being provided with a tongue on each side and theother with a groove on each side to receive said tongue. whereby adisplay sheet placed between said frames will be drawn taut by thebringing together of said frames. and recesses in one of said surfacesbeyond said tongue and groove, for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES F. FRICKE.

